Desk or table



lMay 2o, 1941,y Rc. COXHEAD 2,242,745

DESK 0R TABLE Filed May 21, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 f?? INVENTOR.

BY `ja//J C ox/ead I @Maw Agur, mwd. v /IM'A ATTORNEYS R. c. coxHEADDESK OR TABLE Filed May 2l 1938 May 20, 1941.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mw M n0 l u. vvv. Im Ww (L w, lll4 m WM5 mi.

w/oo 4 mh 9 M M ATroRNEYs Patented May 2), 1941 NTD STAT DESK OR TABLEApplication May 21, 1938, Serial No. 209,211

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in desks or tables and moreparticularly to improvements in desks or tables adapted especially foruse in Iconjunction with and as supports for typewriting machines.

An object of the invention is to provide a table as described with asliding drawer having a top pivotally mounted 'thereon at the front endthereof for movement into an inclined plane to serve as an auxiliarydesk member.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a slidable drawerin a desk, which drawer has the top pivotally mounted to be tilted andwhich top has the major portion thereof formed of some translucentmaterial.

An additional object of the invention is to provde illuminating means ina. drawer as just described, which illuminating means can be used toilluminate devices resting on the translucent top of the drawer.

In carrying out the foregoing and other objects of the invention, atable is constructed f some suitable material such as steel or othersuitable metal, or any other material which has the propercharacteristics. In the particular form shown,

the table is constructed of steel with hollow the front end of thedrawer. This cover can be tilted to an inclined position and when sotilted, means are provided for supporting the same in such position.IThe principal part of this cover is made of some translucent material,such as ground glass. Mounted in the drawer are `two sockets for thereception of electric light bulbs which can be energized to direct lightrays through the translucent top, thereby rendering the top readilyusable as a surface for the preparation of stencil sheets and the like.The top of this drawer, of course, can be used as a drawing board or asan auxiliary surface for writing, or for other uses to which a desk isordinarily put. One rear support of the desk has electric conductorsextending upwardly from a socket mounted in the support. A circuit fromthis common supply line extends to the lamp sockets mounted in thedrawer before described.

Other features, objects and advantages will become apparent by referenceto the following de- 'tailed description of the accompanying drawingsillustrating the same:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a table or desk embodying the inventionand showing parts thereof in adjusted position;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a fragment of the desk and showing the drawerwith pivoted top in one adjusted position;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken substantially on the line 3--3 ofFig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a still further enlarged section taken substantially on theline Ii-Ll of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, Ill indicates generally a desk or tablemade lin accordance with the invention. This desk is formedwith fourhollow legs I I which support a top I2 preferably having secured on thesurface thereof some composition material suitable for use inconnectionwith this type of device. legs Il have connectedrthereto endpanels I3 and I4 and a Iback panel I5. Extending. between the panels I3and I-fI and spaced from the back panel I5, is a cross-bar IS. Slidablymounted beneath the top I2 in some Ysuitable fashion,v are end drawersIi. These drawers may be of any desired number and of any desired shape.

The top I2 of the desk is providedY substantially intermediate the endsthereof with a depressed well,` indicated generally at- I8, which wellhas parallel side-walls I9, opposite longitudinal extensions definedeach by three walls 28, opposite parallel walls 2l and a rear wall 22.The bottomof this well is formed with a plane surface to which can beattached in some suitable fashion a typewriting machine indicatedgenerally at 24, which may be of any desired character, but which in thepresent illustration is of the typeutilizing arcuate vshaped barscontaining fonts of type thereon, which bars can be interchangeable.'Ihe extensions formedV by the walls 2.6' are provided to receiveVportions of the machine so that the machine can be in a depressedposition relative to the top of the table.

Secured to the top of the table is a base 25 and extending upwardly fromsuch base is a exible stem 26 terminating in a socket 21 having a shade28 secured thereto. This socket 2l serves as a receptacle for anelectric light bulb and since stem 26 is flexible, the socket can beadjusted to any desired position to illuminate parts of the top of thedesk and the machine. The machine has as a part thereof an electricmotor 29 and a spring box 3B, and also, a lamp standard 3| havingassociated therewith a socket for the recep- In addition, the

tion of a light bulb and an enclosing shade 32 which is adjustable sothat desired parts of the machine including the motor and spring box canbe illuminated.

Slidably mounted substantially midway between the end panels I3 and I4is a drawer indicated generally at 35. The drawer is composed in part ofa shallow tray made up of a bottom 36 and side members 3'I secured. tothe bottom by welding or in some other suitable fashion. By reference toFig. 4 it will be seen that each side member 3l has a part thereofsecured underneath the bottom 36, a right angular part extendingupwardly; a horizontal portion 38 and a vertical portion 39 spaced inparallelism to the rst mentioned upright portion. This member 3l servesto support the tray in a suitable slide secured to the frameworkindicated generally at 4extending downwardly beneath the top I2. Theslideway proper is made up of a metallic member having a verticalportion 4I secured to the framework 40 by welding or in any othersuitable manner, a bottom horizontal portion 42, a vertical portion 44in substantial parallelism to the vertical portion 4I and an angularportion 45 extending toward the corner between the parts 4I and 42. Theside member 31 is mounted in such fashion that the horizontal part 38thereof, rests on the bend formed between parts 44 and 45 and thevertical part 39 of the member 3l lies adjacent to the vertical portion4I of the slide. Secured to the frame 40 immediately above the guidewayis an angle bar 46, such bar being located near the front of the desk asindicated in Fig. 3. 'Ihe horizontal expanse oi this angle bar 46 ispositioned to overlie the horizontal part 38 of the tray in closeproximity to serve as a stop member to prevent tilting of the tray whenthe same is extended to the Fig. 3 position, and in addition, thishorizontal part of the angle bar cooperates with a stop 4l extendingupwardly from part 38 to limit outward movement of the tray.

Associated with the tray is a top member indicated generally at 50 (Fig.3) which top member is made substantially as follows: To an angle bar 5Iis secured a metallic member having a horizontal part 52 and a verticalpart 54. The vertical part 54 extends upwardly beyond lthe slide member38 of the tray and is bent over to form a stepped top part 55. The frontpanel of this top member formed by vertical part 54 extends beneath theangle member 5I and is turned back as indicated at 56, 'I'his extensionserves admirably as a handle for the combination drawer made up of trayand top, 'I'he top is pivoted to the side members 31 at the front of thedrawer -as indicated at 5l. A strip of leather 58 or other suitablematerial is positioned along the two sides and the rear of the bottom 36of the tray to serve as a cushion for the top in its closed position.

Seated in the step formed in the top part of the Itop member andextending completely around the top, is strip cork material or someothersuitable material. This cork stripping 59 serves to form a borderfor a. panel 60 preferably of ground glass which has the edges thereofresting on felt 6I or some other suitable material, which felt has theinner edge thereof coextensive with the top part 55; it being understoodof course, that a relatively large opening is provided in the metallictop to be closed only by the ground glass panel 66. Secured to andextending downwardly from the steps of the top part 55 at opposite sidesthereof .are two anglel bars 62 to which are preferably secured props64. These props are designed to pass through openings 65 in the bottom36 of the tray and each prop has a notch 66 near the end thereof, ofshape and size to engage the edge of the opening 66. When so engaged, orin other words, in the dotted line position of Fig. 3, the props 64serve to hold the top or cover in an inclined position (the dotted lineposition Fig. 3). If desired several notches 66 can be provided alongthe length of the props 64 to permit adjusting the top to any desiredangularity.

Extending upwardly from the bottom 3S of the tray is wall member 'I0having secured thereto a pair of electric light sockets "II, serving asreceptacles for electric light bulbs l2. The bottom 36 of the tray isprovided with a plurality of relatively small openings 'I4 immediatelybelow the light bulbs to permit the entry of `air into the interior ofthe drawer. Also the upright parts 54 of the cover member are providedwith openings 'I5 for the entrance of air, the various openingscooperating to permit circulation of air through the interior to preventexcessive heat. Secured to the bottom 36 of the tray near the oppositeedges thereof, are two leaf springs 'I6 curved upwardly in such fashionthat they can rest against the stepped surface of the top 55. Thesesprings act as shock absorbers to prevent the cover being lowered insuch fashion as to create a shock or jar which might fracture the glasspanel 66. Secured to the inner edge of the cover are two pins or studs'I'I and adjacent such studs are two spring clips 13. The purpose 0fthese members will be explained later.

As before stated, the various legs II of the device are made of hollowsteel construction, and

1 due to such construction, an electric feed line extends upwardly inthe interior of one of the rear legs II from an electric plug 36 mountedin such leg near the bottom thereof for the reception of a socket 8| onthe end of an extension cord. The various wires utilized in providingcurrent carriers for the various devices described hereinbefore are notshown in detail. Suitable conductors for supplying energy to the lampbulbs 'I2 together with a control switch are provided.

Since the machine I8 as before described is of a type employinginterchangeable fonts of type mounted on arcuate shaped bars, provisionis made for storing a plurality of such arcuate shaped bars in suchposition as to be readily available. For this purpose the base of themachine is provided with a chamber partially defined by the bottom plateof such base. By reference to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the typereceptacle comprises a tray IB'I, the front wall of which conforms tothe configuration of the base of the machine. This tray has a forwardcompartment I08 having a plurality of arcuate shaped partitions therein.These partitions define chambers for the reception' of arcuate shapedbars having fonts of type thereon, illustra-ted at H0. tray in asuitable fashion preferably with the aid of spring means for normallyforcing the cover upwardly.

The device hereinbefore described possesses many advantages not presentin desks and tables heretofore provided for use in conjunction andcooperation with typewriting machines.

The provision of the sliding drawer 35 makes possible several operationsby the user of the A cover II2 is hinged to the desk without thenecessity of requiring additional equipment at some other point in theroom. This drawer when moved to its outermost position provides ineffect a desk or table top which can be utilized for writing, fordrawing or for other purposes. Furthermore, since the panel 60 is ofground glass and light bulbs 12 are mounted underneath the same, it ispossible to obtain an illumination of such panel whereby stencils orother partially transparent or translucent devices can be carefullyinspected. To this end the upstanding lugs or pins 11 have beenprovided, which pins can be engaged by the recesses customarily found instencils or the like, which are prepared on typewriting machines. Thespring clips 'i8 can also be used to secure paper, drawings, or the liketo the top of the drawer. The use of the drawer for such purposes is notlimited to a position in which the panel 60 extends horizontally, butthe top of this drawer can be adjusted angularly (Fig. 3) into such-position as to render inspection and the like more efficient. In suchangular position the top of the drawer is particularly adapted for useas a drawing board and can be used either with lights 'l2 energized ornot as may be desired.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention providesas a unitary structure, a desk or table which possesses advantages notcustomarily found in office equipment of this type. It will beunderstood of course, that other modifications beyond those shown in thedrawings can be made; in view of which any limitations imposed thereuponare to be only those set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A device of the character described, comprising a table, said tablehaving a slidable drawer intermediate the ends thereof, said drawerbeing composed partially of a tray, and a cover for said tray, saidcover having depending side walls of greater height than the side Wallsof said tray, said cover walls fitting closely in the tray walls wherebythe cover extends substantially completely across the top of the tra-y,said cover being hinged to the forward end of said tray so that theposition of said cover can be adjusted from a horizontal position to anangular position, lateral extensions on the side walls of said tray, andmeans in said table cooperating with said extensions to support saidtray and cover in any position of the cover and to prevent substantialtipping of the tray when the cover is in an angular position, thelateral extensions on the side walls of the tray being extended beyondthe inner boundary of the cover tosvupport the drawer with the coverelevated beyond the front of the table.

2,'A device of the character described, comprising a table, said tablehaving a slidable drawer intermediate the ends thereof, said drawerbeing composed partially of a tray, and a cover for said tray, saidcover having dependingzside walls fitting closely in the tray wallswhereby the cover extends substantially completely across the top of thetray, said cover being supported by said tray with the top of the covernormally lying in a substantially horizontal plane, said cover beinghinged to the forward end of said tray so that the position of saidcover can be adjusted from a horizontal position to an angular position,lateral extensions onthe side walls of said tray, and means in saidtable cooperating with said extensions to support saidvtray and cover inany position of the cover and-jt@ prevent substantial tipping of thetray when the cover is in an angular position, the lateral extensions onthe side walls of the tray being extended beyond the inner boundary oftheuover to support the drawer with the cover elevated beyond the frontof the table.

3, -A device of the character described, comprising a table, said tablehaving a slidable drawer intermediate the ends thereof, said drawerbeing composed partially of a tray, and acover for said tray, said coverhaving dependingjside walls fitting closely in the tray walls wherebythe cover extends substantially completely across the top of the tray,said cover side walls being pivotally secured to adjacent tray sidewallsnear the forward ends thereof so that the position of said cover can 4beadjusted from a horizontal position to an angular position, said coverhaving a depending front wall forming the front wall of the drawer,lateral extensions on the side walls of said tray, and means in saidtable cooperating with said extensions to support said tray' and coverin any position of the cover and to prevent substantial tipping of thetray when the cover is in an angular position, the lateral extensions onthe `side walls of the tray being extended beyond the inner boundary oftheme-over to support the drawer with the cover elevated beyond thefront of the table.

RALPH C. COXHEAD.

